It used to be everyone’s favorite show, but now people are sorely disappointed with “The Office”, especially the season seven premiere. Where did it go wrong?

1.) Jim and Pam are together- People loved it best when Jim and Pam were dancing around each other nervously, hoping for a chance at romance. Now, they’re a happy couple with a perfect life that nobody can relate to. They have hardly fought and simply make us feel bad about our own relationships.

2.) Nobody hates Michael anymore- Back in the earlier seasons, people in the office were not friends with Michael. In fact, they couldn’t stand him. Inviting him out for happy hour would have been the last thing they would do. Nobody would have wanted to give him relationship advice. Since Dunder Mifflin was bought by Sabre, Michael and his employees have gotten closer, which actually ruins the previously hilarious hatred between the two.

3.) It’s no longer realistic- When Michael spanked Luke in the season premiere, it wasn’t that funny. It wasn’t funny because it wasn’t anything that would ever really happen. Michael’s comedy is based around realistic awkwardness, not slapstick humor. Over-the-top events like that are not funny and just stupid.

4.) Erin is too upbeat- The new receptionist is always in a good mood, which destroys the previously morbid and pessimistic vibe of The Office. She is unrealistically silly, and her happiness makes the show less funny.

5.) Jim seems to enjoy his job- Now that Jim has a family, he is no longer apathetic and lazy about his job, which was part of what made his character funny. However, if he were to act that way, you wouldn’t like him because he would be immature and careless about his child. Hence why having the baby was a bad idea.

6.) Not enough Stanley or Phyllis- Stanley and Phyllis’s characters haven’t changed, which means they’re still funny. But unfortunately they’re hardly ever used. Instead, Dwight and Andy are overused and in a way their characters “sold out”.

7.) Ryan is no longer “the temp”- When Ryan was the careless and perpetually grumpy temp, he was funny. Now, he’s upbeat and hipstery. It’s a total 180 for his character and frankly it’s a bit disturbing, even though it makes sense within the plot of the show.

8.) The episodes no longer revolve around mundane things- Some of the best episodes of The Office had the most boring subjects– healthcare, diversity day, conflict resolution–boring office topics. Now, Michael’s extramarital affair, printers catching on fire–it’s just too much. Keep it simple.

9.) Michael Scott is no longer that offensive- Michael’s semi-racist comments were always his trademark, especially when he referred to himself as an “entertainer”. Now, Michael is immature, but no longer that offensive. He’s just a child now, which means you feel almost guilty making fun of him.

10.) Someone had a baby- Shows always involve new babies when they’re going downhill. It’s just a fact.

Actually, for me this list would be more like the top 10 reasons why the office is getting better now. In previous seasons, the office was pretty much a place to go curl up and die in. For a COMEDY tv show, I much prefer happy people. In fact, Erin pretty much saved the show in my opinion. Plus, the ridiculous stunts michael pulled were excessive and got on my nerves – a complete episode dedicated to making his awkward kiss with jan even more awkward? Much better, in my opinion, when life is pretty normal, with funny things on the side. Like seinfeld.

I hereby nominate the Office for the Ted McGinley award for the most shark jumps in a year. Christmas special, marriage, clips show, baby, shift from focus on the office to focus on Jim and Pam ’s baby and a show about an office becomes “The Cute Baby Show”. This show is painful to watch anymore. Steve Carrell is wise to leave while he still has a little dignity left. They really should get Ted McGinley to play the new boss. That would be appropriate.

Nice article and I totally agree The Office sucks now. It’s just not funny anymore. In its prime, people either loved it or hated it, and I get that; it clearly wasn’t for everyone.

It’s so bad and so different, I have found myself wondering if they hired new writers this year. Not everyone prefers “happy people” in their comedies. Some prefer real life situations, and in real life very few are what could be described as “happy people.”

I agree with others that the marriage and baby and shows surroundung that theme killed the comedy. (But the best scene by far from the whole series was Andy dancing and cutting his scrotum trying to impress Erin.)

Friends was funny too, until they weren’t friends anymore. Avoiding this stuff and quitting while on top is why Seinfeld will go down as one of the best comedy series ever.

Wow, you really nailed it. It’s gone way down hill. I’m a big fan season 1 to 4 were pretty much the pinnacle and season 5 was good. But season 6 and 7 makes me just wish they would of went out on season 5 and gone out on a good note.

I thought I was the only one who thought that the show sucked now. Season 1-5 were great, but the last two seasons are just bad and not funny at all. Plus, am I the only one that finds Erin extremely annoying????? She is just too happy, all the time. It’s just too much. Hope season 8 will be the last one.

I totally agree the Office sucks now and it’s all because of Erin and the plot just completely revolves around Jim and Pam’s baby ever since they got married. Seasons 1-5 were great but ever since sabre took over in season 6 every episode became repetitive and extremely boring and unfunny and season 7 is even worse.

You omitted one of my main reasons why this show has fallen into the toilet… KEVIN!
I miss the realistic, quiet, slow-moving pervert that once was Kevin. When we thought he has skin cancer in season 2, we were sympathetic to Kevin. It’s hard to believe that Kevin is even the same guy who claimed to be a card shark in “Casino Night”. I don’t knwo if this was a decision by the writers, or the actor, but it really irritated me that they play Kevin as a complete idiot. They wouldn’t hire him as an accountent if he were really that stupid.

I used to love this show, seasons 1-6 were GREAT! The best part about it was Michael’s cluelessness. He used to be just stupid and awkward which made the show hilarious to me. Now, in this season, He is all of a sudden wiser and a know it all. Plus he is always angry now too, which doesnt make it funny. Every single character changed, Kelly is just straight up annoying now, it was best when she was all ditsy..Dwight even changed, I thought it was better when he was always kissing up to Michael..Jim and Pam, yeah enough said, their baby ruined it all, remember its called “The Office,” so why does their baby get so much exposure. Also, now they are taking the script away from the office..They are all trying WAY too hard, and thats not comedy..before, it was simple, and that was its best seasons. So, I dont know what happened in season 7, but a 720 degree turnaround was made. I dont know whats going on with steve carrel, but his character straight up sucks now.

I used to love this show, seasons 1-6 were GREAT! The best part about it was how Michael was so clueless. He used to be just stupid and awkward which made the show hilarious to me. Now, in this season, He is all of a sudden wiser and a know it all. Plus he is always angry now too, which doesn’t make it funny. Every single character changed, Kelly is just straight up annoying now, it was best when she was all ditsy..Dwight even changed, I thought it was better when he was always kissing up to Michael..Jim and Pam, yeah enough said, their baby ruined it all, remember its called “The Office,” so why does their baby get so much exposure. Also, now they are taking the script away from the office..They are all trying WAY too hard, and that’s not comedy..before, it was simple, and that was its best seasons. So, I don’t know what happened in season 7, but a 720 degree turnaround was made. I don’t know whats going on with Steve carrel, but his character straight up sucks now.

I agree with this whole-heartedly. Let me just add, if I may, that it really took a dive when they started going overboard with all the online extras; deleted scenes, questions for the writers, blogs, etc. They over-exposed it. It’s like they turned a great local Chinese place into a Panda Express.

@Larry – Great point about Kevin. All of the characters had their subtleties in the beginning. The unspoken character traits, and relationship dynamics were what made the show so brilliant. Now that they’ve resolved all the old mini-plot lines (Jim and Pam married, Todd Packer nixed, Ryan’s career crashed, etc) every episode is just an awkward attempt at coming up with a story that just isn’t there anymore.

I’m so glad I stumbled upon this page. I’ve been tempted to write my Master’s thesis on how bad this show sucks now. Those who hopped on the bandwagon circa Season 4 have no idea how funny and REAL it used to be.

I don’t know about you guys, but watching Steve’s last episode was incredibly awkward and uncomfortable for me. It was so slow-paced, and the acting was TERRIBLE.

Someone please make a Facebook page petitioning for them to cancel the series; a real one that we can all get behind. At this point, it’d be mercy killing.

So true. It used to be like a REAL office, but for TV – duh, the point. Now it’s like an episode of the Simpsons. Things happen which don’t make any sense at all. Like Andy, Dwight and Darryl (WTF!! DARRYL?) dancing around the roller rink w. the strobe light in season 7..the wackshot is a Family Guy/Simpsons thing. NOT meant for a mockumentary; the writer’s are patronizing us – Pam’s annoying because she’s no longer meek but chatty and scornful, and every character is wayyy too close to one another, like they’re deeply invested in each other’s lives and have no outside lives. pathetic. Rephrase that: Sappy AND pathetic.

And Brandon good point, I’m gonna look into a FB page about this and join

The problem with having Jim and Pam get married and have a baby (now two) is that they have to portray the happy, well adjusted family or many people will be turned off. Since we routed for them to get together for so long, it would be disappointing to see there was trouble in paradise. But perfection is boring. And, as stated in the article, concentrating on Jim and Pam’s marriage and baby is not realistic within the scope of an “office documentary.”

I just tuned into Season 8, and the problems have only gotten worse — baby-wise and otherwise alike. Andy’s promotion is clearly a device to make him fit into Michael Scott’s shoes (in both job and character). But Andy’s character is already watered down and trite, and the fact that his co-workers are fine with his promotion doesn’t leave much by way of awkward boss-employee relations. I know Robert California is supposed to provide this dynamic, but it just isn’t enough. Even his character, while entertaining, is completely unrealistic and often absent from the show.

This show really needs to end now because it’s clearly run its course. If it continues, it will be remembered as a stale show, and not the sharp comedy it once was.

The show started to suck when Erin came on board. I cannot stand her character. Sadly though, her character is realistic…I have worked with many dingbats just like her and couldn’t stand any of them either.

I can’t say it has improved any. In fact, this season, it’s obvious they’re still writing for Michael and they just have Andy delivering the lines. Fail. This show needs to be cancelled.

The show is almost unwatchable now. Andy Bernard might be the most obnoxious character on television. I cringe my teeth every time the camera pans to him. The show has lost everything. If they want a shot, they need to make Dwight and Creed co-managers. The other option is landing Zach Galifianakis as the new Dunder Mifflin boss. Otherwise, the show is done.

Wow, perfect summation of a failed show that has no business being televised anymore, but networks will beat a thing to death to get the last penny out. Mindy Kahling (sp?) had some decent writing efforts in the past but it seems like she’s pretty much taken over the writing and she’s as clueless as her character. I watch it randomly & have to switch it off after 10 minutes.

I have tried many times to watch the Office. It takes less than a minute, and I flip the channel or mute the sound, it is just awful, & I cannot take it anymore. Just plain STUPID. This is the best word I can find to describe. I like some of these actors in other shows, it is not them,(well, not all of them)

I agree on most of the list, but none of this really hit me until Carell left. Dwight has lost his edge, Andy’s way out of character, we don’t get enough of Kevin, Stanley, Phyllis or even Creed (who’s random interjections can be absolutely hilarious — the CPR dummy “stayin’ alive” scene comes to mind).

Where I disagree:

– A stable relationship on TV is actually refreshing I get sick of the dysfunctional “dad is a moron” families which permeate TV. For the comedic value, I do agree — they’re not that funny anymore. Jim and Pam needed to develop their own inside jokes that only they get, but I haven’t the slightest idea how to make that happen. Perhaps the proper course of action would be to have Jim get a much better job and gracefully write them off the show.

Erin’s character actually clicked for me. She’s not just upbeat, she’s an oddball who is a little clueless. That’s why she can be so upbeat — she doesn’t perceive the atmosphere at Dunder Mifflin. In real life work, I see that kind of person in every job I’ve had. Think office space: “Just a moment!”

For me, the real downfall was the departure of Steve Carell. He made the whole thing work. Now the show seems aimless and silly. The gags don’t resonate the same way.

Well now that season 8 has rolled around things have only gotten worse on the show…and you know who is to blame?…the totally unfunny, creepylookin British boss lady who is without a doubt a man wearing a wig.
This is the office U.S. not the office u.k.
Ps: did I mention she’s not funny

I agree!! I hate that it’s changed so much. And I wish they would stop adding new characters. Like it was fine when they added Andy, and even though I hated Karen it made sense for her to show up temporarily, but Erin replacing Pam as receptionist really threw me off. And I agree with everything you guys have said about how annoying Kelly is now, and Michael has changed A LOT. I really wish they would show more of the characters who have always been there and made the show funny. They should have cancelled the show the episode that Pam and Jim got married….it would have been a nice ending to a great thing instead of trying to keep it going and sucking the life out of it!

It is kind of weird that people are saying Creed, Phillys, and Stanley are the funny ones. I have loved the office from the beginning and still do and those 3 characters are probably the least funny of them all. I don’t think I have ever laughed at a scene with Creed as the star. If I could change anything I would say they need to get rid of him. Where is the humor?

Anyway if the makers of The Office are reading this, scrap Creed but don’t listen to all these other silly people. I don’t know why they are so pessimistic about things! Keep up the good work, your job isn’t easy!